S.M.A.R.T. NEWSLETTER - feb. '24

one s.m.a.r.t. teacher

In fond memory of Cindy Sperr,
​a pioneer S.M.A.R.T. Pre-K educator

​For 25 years, Cindy Sperr was a beacon of inspiration in the field of early childhood education, dedicating her life to nurturing the minds of young learners. Her journey as an educator is marked by an unwavering passion for fostering the growth of every child who stepped foot into her classroom.

Cindy worked as a teacher/mentor coach in the Anoka/Washington County Head Start Stillwater Center. She is known for her remarkable ability to bring the community and the classroom together. Her colleagues recall her skill in getting many people involved in education. Students, parents, family, and community members loved being in her classroom. 

A Chance To Grow had the privilege of welcoming Cindy into the S.M.A.R.T. community in 2005 when she participated in the S.M.A.R.T. Pre-K pilot project. Her love of children, understanding of how they learn best, and drive to serve each and every child, caused her to stand out as a S.M.A.R.T. educator. The development and creation of S.M.A.R.T. Pre-K would not have been possible without Cindy and her colleagues' unfailing commitment to our partnership and willingness to open their sites and classrooms, sharing their profound understanding of young children. Cindy was a true leader in this regard. 

As her experience in classrooms grew, so did her creativity in implementing S.M.A.R.T. Pre-K. Cindy had the gift of thinking outside of the box, not allowing time, space, or budget hurdles to cause her to drift away from implementing a program she believed benefitted all children. In fact, Cindy’s creative implementation of a vision activity is one of the most replicated S.M.A.R.T. ideas to date. Follow the link here>> to be inspired by this S.M.A.R.T. use of space. We are honored to have her contributions in writing as she is featured in our Pre-K Program Guides as One S.M.A.R.T. Teacher in several activities. 
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Let us join together in celebrating Cindy’s remarkable 25 year journey in Head Start and find inspiration in how many lives she touched. Cindy passed away in December 2023 but her legacy is no doubt etched in the hearts of the children and families she supported.